Quantum Dot Digital Radiographic Detection System

Abstract

A digital quantum dot radiographic detection system described herein includes: a scintillation subsystem 202 and a semiconductor visible light detection subsystem 200, 200′ (including a plurality of quantum dot image sensors 200a, 200b). In a first preferred digital quantum dot radiographic detection system, the plurality of quantum dot image sensors 200 is in substantially direct contact with the scintillation subsystem 202. In a second preferred digital quantum dot radiographic detection system, the scintillation subsystem has a plurality of discrete scintillation packets 212a, 212b, at least one of the discrete scintillation packets communicating with at least one of the quantum dot image sensors. The quantum dot image sensors 200 may be associated with semiconductor substrate 210 made from materials such as silicon (and variations thereof) or graphene.

Description

[0001]The present application is a continuation of Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT / US13 / 31813, filed Mar. 15, 2013. The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 184,469, filed Jul. 15, 2011. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 184,469 claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 364,448, filed Jul. 15, 2010. The present application is based on and claims priority from these applications, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]Disclosed herein is a digital radiographic detection system and, more specifically, a quantum dot digital radiographic detection system. Digital radiography (“DR” or “DX”) is a form of X-ray imaging, where a semiconductor visible light detection device (e.g. digital X-ray sensors or imagers) is used instead of traditional photographic film. The semiconductor visible light detection device is used to rec...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a digital radiographic detection system that uses quantum dots to convert X-rays into visible light. The system includes a scintillation subsystem and a semiconductor visible light detection subsystem with quantum dot image sensors. The quantum dot image sensors detect the visible light and convert it into electronic signals. The system can have a plurality of quantum dot image sensors arranged in an array or in a heterogeneous pattern. The system can also include an optically opaque layer with optical retroflectors positioned opposite the quantum dot image sensors. The technical effects of this system include improved image quality, reduced X-ray exposure, and improved detection of X-rays.

Problems solved by technology

There are, however, inherent physical drawbacks to the use of CCD and CMOS sensors for X-radiography including, but not limited to the requirement of relatively thick scintillation layers, the requirement that detectors must be embedded within the physical body of the silicon device, the requirement of large individual detector sizes, low detector efficiency for capturing generated photons, low active sensor detection area / total detector size ratio, the inability to optimize peak sensor optical sensitivity to the scintillation chemistry, and the narrow practical dynamic range between over- and under-exposure by the practitioner.

These limitations result in a blurred image, low sensor image contrast, and a narrow dynamic range.

From a practitioner's perspective, direct digital radiographic detection devices that use CCD and CMOS image sensors have diagnostic qualities that are very poor as compared to direct digital radiographic detection devices that use traditional film.

Digital radiographic detection devices that use CCD and CMOS image sensors have poor edge definition in the native image, poor contrast levels in the native image, very narrow dynamic range between over- and under-exposed images, and most of the photons generated by the scintillation layer (over 95%) are simply not detected.

The limitations are inherent to how CCD and CMOS image sensors function.

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